short sighted training firms in the uk

[lockey1963]

A uk locksmith training firm from the west and midlands is training Eon debt reps in basic lock opening, teaching them to use tools such as pick gun , hand picks , bump keys and letterbox tool and to drill mortice locks, thus attempting to grab some quick money by screwing the warrant market for the multitude of locksmiths that work within it.

Only 1 regions reps are to be trained as a test run, if succesfull it will go nationwide.

Now these trainers sell training to would be locksmith novices with the promise of giving them warrant work, i wonder if these novices would be happy paying them for training knowing they are closing a door into warrants for the new guys at the same time.

Its short sighted of the training firm to do this training, just plain greed without a second thought for the locksmiths they have trained.

It will have little effect on the top 20% of openers as plenty of runs on the top end locks to do, but will hurt badly the newer guys still learning their craft as this work will thin right out for them.

[79commando]

At this rate in 2 yrs time they will have no one left to train and will also suffer. Especially as by then they will have built up a fair few enemies, some of whom may come looking for their pound of flesh.

[Chris B]

Good evening Lockey1963

This evening I had a phone call from a locksmith asking me if/why I was selling my tools to power company in-house locksmith workers. I had to take time out to reassure the locksmith concerned that indeed I am NOT selling tools to any power company, nor does ME Duffells Ltd.

The information that this locksmith had - was that he was informed that we were selling CB Tools direct to a power company or power company in-house workers, because supposedly the locksmith firm that you are referring to, [who like yourself, trains up locksmiths as well as being a locksmith] has trained up the in-house workers of a power company, and that I was selling my tools to that firm for those workers. I have been assured that the above mentioned power supply company has no intentions of increasing it’s in-house locksmiths, the two in-house locksmiths concerned were sent for assessment only. I have been informed that there are no plans to increase those in-house worker numbers.

I do everything that I can in my power to ensure that my tools are sold only to locksmiths, I sell through ME Duffells as you well know, or people who have been trained to work as locksmiths, not like some people within the trade who sell locksmith tools including bump keys and master keys etc to non-locksmiths. If new locksmiths phone me, I write to Duffells with all the person’s details, and ask Duffells to contact that person, I check as best as I can that the person purporting to be a locksmith is trading, and Duffells themselves do their checks as well. I am sick and tired of these continued attacks that are made on me and my business, and ask the people who are making up stories and twisting the truth – to stop. This trade is supposed to have people with honesty and integrity and this is a typical example of how sad some people are. We as the locksmith trade should stand above all this nonsense. Don’t listen to these stories, they come from people who are just trying to make trouble. After all we have enough to be getting on in our working lives to keep us busy. Just keep your nose to the ground and keep away from people who are mischievous.

To calm your worries, I made contact this evening to find out the truth behind the story that you relayed, and I have been told that you need not worry. The power company workers attended an assessment, not a training session. Their tool bags were checked, and they were found to be lacking the correct tools that locksmiths require. [I read on the board recently your advice to a chap soon to be leaving the Army, Neil_1li, advising him that he would have a large investment to make into the correct tools for our industry. ] These two men were sent back to their company with their assessment, which had fallen short.
The company was given a list that locksmiths should carry, which included a list similar to the list which is on this forum, it contained all manor of tools including SV Pin & Cam Sets, Souber Tools etc etc and amongst the list was my CB Pick. This should not be interpreted as me selling tools directly to anyone who isn’t a locksmith. After all, if my tool is on the list on this forum, is it feasible that I am selling my CB Pick to all the members on this forum? Is Paul Souber? Is RB Medical? Are SafeVentures? Etc etc etc. No sir.

The people responsible for selling locksmith tools to the general public and anyone who is not a locksmith, are responsible for the problems within the Locksmithing Industry within the UK. All UK locksmiths need to look in their own back yard, before commenting inaccurately on other locksmiths and their business’s.

My opinion of why this thread started is that someone received a list of tools required which had my tool name listed on it, then someone decided to twist the facts and make more of it. They should be ashamed of themselves, that’s for sure.

I do not believe that selling locksmith tools to all and sundry is for the good of this industry. Others have their opinion on this, and they are entitled to that opinion. This is my opinion. Experience shows there are a lot of sad stories of people who start up locksmithing without checking what competition they may have in their given area.

As a post script, I have this year started my own system of Registered CB Tools. For example, my latest tool is sold only to locksmiths with the proviso that they do not post information on the Internet about the tool, also, the registered tool should only sold to a locksmith subject to his geographical location with relationship to the next nearest locksmith, so that there is no competition between the tool holders, and enables the tool holder to gain maximum advantage in his/her area.

End of.

[lockey1963]

Thank you for your frank response chris, also as you must also then be aware, this rumour was started way up the food chain from us humble warrant locksmiths, and as mentioned elswhere , chinese whispers worsen such rumours the further down the chain it gets, despite this many are often based upon some truth.

As to who told me this rumour, they are honest locksmiths , and if this was/is true would you not be concerned about this too, especially as so many rely upon their living from such work ?

It is also true that i understand the rumour mills having once trained locksmiths myself, these days i stick to just teaching trading locksmiths, as unfair to take money from a novice offering little hope of a future.

i have emailed you privately on this matter as an open forum isnt the place for the questions i have asked.

[Chris B]

Thank you Martin, I've just replied to your email.
Goodnight all.